Miklos Rozsa: The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Richard--W · 06-01-2008, 12:29 AM

According to liner notes on the oop MGM laser disc, Billy Wilder had been toying with the idea of making a Sherlock Holmes film when he heard a classical composition by his friend Miklos Rozsa, the Violin Concerto Opus 24, which Rozsa composed for virtuoso Jascha Heifetz. Opus 24, Wilder decided, suggested the basic story of the film. It is one very impressive score, perhaps the single greatest piece of music Rozsa ever wrote.

It is not clear to me if the concerto was already on a recording, or if it was recorded specifically for The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Does anyone know? The laser disc isolates the complete score on a separate audio channel, but it comes at you in bits and pieces with long silences in between, and I'm not sure if the complete score is the complete concerto.

More to the point, can anyone provide a link to a CD recording of the concerto and/or to a soundtrack? So far as I know there is no official soundtrack in the USA, but there may be a release in foreign countries that I haven't uncovered yet.

Many thanks.

Ockeghem · 06-01-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard--W

More to the point, can anyone provide a link to a CD recording of the concerto and/or to a soundtrack? So far as I know there is no official soundtrack in the USA, but there may be a release in foreign countries that I haven't uncovered yet.

Many thanks.

Richard,

Well, since you have my favorite author as your avatar....

I can't answer the first question, but I am able to provide some information (not necessarily a link, but perhaps some bibliographic data) with regard to the existence of a CD recording. I will be able to provide agency (library and other) holdings information for you tomorrow (see below).

There appear to be several LP recordings, but I realize you asked about the CD. Let me know if you want any info. on the LP recordings. I've been able to track down around a half dozen or so recordings. Some of these may only be available on LP. (The dates included in the bibliographic records often refer to the original release date, and not consistently to the transfer to CD date.)

Here is information for a couple of CD recordings. The second one below has Heifetz on the violin.

1) Violin concerto $h [sound recording] ; $b Sinfonia concertante / $c Miklós Rósza.

This one is distributed by: [Hong Kong]: $b Naxos, $c p2007. It was recorded Mar. 10-14, 2007, Studio 5, Russian State TV and Radio Company KULTURA, Moscow. The performers include Anastasia Khitruk, violin ; Andrey Tchekmazov, violoncello ; Russian Philharmonic Orchestra ; Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor.

Another CD contains the work you are looking for as well as three other works.

2) Concerto in D, op. 35 $h [sound recording] / $c Korngold. Concerto, op. 24 ; Sinfonia concertante, op. 29. II., Tema con variazioni / Rózsa. Carmen fantasy / Waxman.

It is distributed by New York, NY : $b RCA Victor Gold Seal, $c [1994], p1988. The works were recorded Jan. 10, 1953, Republic Studios Sound Stage 9, Hollywood (1st work); Mar. 27, 1956, State Fair Music Hall, Dallas (2nd work); Oct. 7, 1963, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Los Angeles (3rd work); and Nov. 8, 1946, Lotus Club, New York City (4th work). The performers are Jascha Heifetz, violin ; Gregor Piatigorsky, violoncello (3rd work) ; Los Angeles Philharmonic, Alfred Wallenstein, conductor (1st work) ; Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Walter Hendl, conductor (2nd work) ; RCA Victor Symphony, Donald Voorhees, conductor (4th work).

Re: my 'see below' reference--

Tomorrow, if you like, I will look into this further, as my dial-up from home does not allow me to access information as quickly as if I were at work.

Incidentally, there is a study of the Concerto (if you're interested). It is entitled: "A Study of Miklos Rozsa's Violin Concerto, op. 24" by Jack B. Gallagher ([Ithaca, N.Y.]: s.n., $c 1975, c1973). It is Part II of a master's thesis (M.F.A.) completed at Cornell University, August, 1975.

Tim Tucker · 06-01-2008, 11:06 AM

Rozsa wrote the concerto and Heifetz recorded it in the mid '50s so it definitely predated the film.

I also highly recommend the Heifetz CD. It's one of his best, and you get to hear the serious side of three of the greatest film composers of all time.

Richard--W · 06-02-2008, 06:46 AM

I read in the liner notes that Billy Wilder and Izzy Diamond worked on the script for over a decade before they thought it was ready, and that Wilder listened to the Concerto all the time they were writing, but I didn't realize the Concerto was written in the 1950s. It's much older than I thought, and from Rozsa's most creative period. I appreciate the discographical and bibliographic information and the time you put it in to copy it here. Many thanks. I do wish you had included the album title and the name of the artist -- I assume Heifitz -- which would make it easier for me to locate.

If there are alternatives on vinyl, why not post those here. I'm sure there are many Rozsa fans who are interested. I know several places to search for oop LP's.

Again, many thanks.

Ockeghem · 06-02-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I read in the liner notes that Billy Wilder and Izzy Diamond worked on the script for over a decade before they thought it was ready, and that Wilder listened to the Concerto all the time they were writing, but I didn't realize the Concerto was written in the 1950s. It's much older than I thought, and from Rozsa's most creative period. I appreciate the discographical and bibliographic information and the time you put it in to copy it here. Many thanks. I do wish you had included the album title and the name of the artist -- I assume Heifitz -- which would make it easier for me to locate.

Richard,

You're welcome. Incidentally, I did include the titles. (The album titles are often similar, if not identical, to the titles of the works themselves.) Those are precisely the titles of both albums I included, taken from the chief source of information (the faces of the disc themselves). But I will check to see if the covers (sleeves) have different titles, and if they do, I will include them as well.

I also included the artists (violinists et al.). They are listed under 'Performers' above. I even bolded the name of Heifetz to make it easier to see. I also mentioned that I could list many of the agencies (library and other) that are currently holding the items.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard--W

If there are alternatives on vinyl, why not post those here. I'm sure there are many Rozsa fans who are interested. I know several places to search for oop LP's.

Sure, I can do that, but it will have to wait until I'm at work, which will be in a couple of hours.

**HTF Ads**

Eric Peterson · 06-02-2008, 07:43 AM

I also have the laserdisc and would love to have a proper recording of the music to listen to on demand.

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but it looks like this CD might have a recording of it....and for a reasonable price.

allmusic [Rozsa: Concerto for cello Op32; Concerto for violin Op24]

Eric Peterson · 06-02-2008, 07:52 AM

Another possibility!

Amazon.com: Korngold: Concerto; Rózsa: Concerto; Tema con variazioni; Waxman: "Carmen" Fantasy: Gregor Piatigorsky, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Miklos Rozsa, Franz Waxman, Alfred Wallenstein, Donald Voorhees, Walter Hendl, Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symp

Ockeghem · 06-02-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Peterson

Another possibility!

Amazon.com: Korngold: Concerto; Rózsa: Concerto; Tema con variazioni; Waxman: "Carmen" Fantasy: Gregor Piatigorsky, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Miklos Rozsa, Franz Waxman, Alfred Wallenstein, Donald Voorhees, Walter Hendl, Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symp

Yes, that's the one I listed under no. 2 above.